Category Archive: Commercials
Let your little skater out
EA’s upcoming skateboarding video game called Skate (Duh!) is being heralded as a Tony Hawk killer. Not the actual Tony Hawk, but his video game franchise… The idea that it will kill the franchise is slim to none. It could easily be better than the latest version of the Hawk-named game, but they’ll still milk make a few more because It’s firmly entrenched by now. This seems like a good a time as any to bring up Thrasher’s Skate and Destroy game, that unexpectedly fizzled. I mean, what a perfect product tie-in. The game was a good one too. It took a different approach from an art direction standpoint, going for a more stylized look than trying to emulate realism. They had a decent development studio behind it too. Maybe they were a little bit too early. Oh well, I guess everything Fausto touched couldn’t turn to gold. I had kind of stopped collecting and chronicling current skateboarding video game commercials. They are just too prevalent now. This new one for Skate is pretty good though. It’s funny and features some name skaters acting on camera, and doing a good job of it too. The gist of it is that…
Mistubishi and Pool Skating
The shows I watch must fall out of the targeted demographic because I’ve had people tell me about this commercial but I can’t seem to catch it on the air. Instead I have to resort to pulling it off the web. Misubishi, the company that brought you the Japanese Zero, now wants to help you go on a kamikaze pool mission by driving you there and blasting your MP3’s once you get to the secret spot. Thanks to John Aguilar and Paige for the tip off.
Like pointing a video camera at a mirror.
So this post contains a YouTube video made from television broadcasts showing YouTube videos. Now if we could just get a video of this post broadcast on TV and re-recorded and posted on YouTube… The first bit is an Apple iPhone commercial and the second is Steven Colbert on The Colbert Report, both showcasing the skateboarding bulldog. Watch the vid after the jump.
Sneaky Nokia ad features skateboarding.
More viral advertising featuring skateboarding. This one in a commercial from Nokia, masquerading as a company called Great Pockets. The joke being that you could buy custom tailored clothing with huge pockets to carry all your electronic gear, or of course you could just ditch all that gear for the Nokia N95 phone. Watch this kid try to skateboard while leaving a trail of battered consumer electronics after the jump.
What’s the 411 on 118 118?
Old people skateboarding certainly has been done before. (See Granny Skates for CarMax) This is a pretty good commercial from the UK, although I was disappointed that the old guy was a stunt man. For some reason I thought he was actually going to get on a board. Maybe the happy music made think it was going to be one of those touchy-feely “don’t judge a book by it’s cover” public service type of commercials. Instead it’s an ad for something called 118 118 which, near as I can tell has something to do with a phone directory or phone service. The park is Something called BaySixty6, which is apparently sponsored by XBox, whatever that means. I guess Playstation has a park too, why not. What do these sponsorships mean? Are they permanent? We know who sponsors the park, but what about the stunt rider? Whoever he is, he rides for Vans and Quicksilver. Check out the old school varial in the action sequence. Nowadays it seems like all the pros forego the the varial for the shove-it instead.
Allergic to skateboarding in commercials
Your kids can overcome their allergy problems using Children’s Claritin, without making them jittery or drowsy. Must not be any good for making meth either. As always, if you can identify the rider or the skatepark, please leave it in the comments. Watch the commercial after the jump.
Shaun White for American Express
What, no Don’t shred home without it? Err, yeah. Here’s an American Express commercial featuring Shaun White, who needs his credit card to allow him to fly from California to Utah, Canada, Japan and Norway at the drop of a hat. I thought that was what his sponsors were for? Apparently, American Express is trying to tap the demographic for spoiled rich teenagers. Is it just me, or is post-puberty Shaun White starting to look like Howard Stern with red hair? Oh yeah, the gimmick in this commercial is the old skateboarding used as transportation indoors – look at me, I’m radical! Extra points (and $, I’m sure) to Shaun for managing to get a Volcom shirt in the shot as well. Check out the commercial after the jump.
Goodyear goes old school.
Street boneless in a TV commercial? Yes, but it’s European, so maybe that explains it. Check out this fun commercial for Goodyear Eagle tires. You can almost taste the spring air in the first few moments. – Thanks to Eric Cherry for the tip. [Source: Flabber]
Hot Wheels Skate Freaks
Hot Wheels Skate Freaks is a collection of skateboard toys that looks like it was designed in the 80’s. The figures appear to based on some Sizzler type technology they resurrected in some time around 2000 for skateboard toys. Watch this commercial with an Extreme™ voiceover and more Skate Freaks action after the jump.
Skateboarding Bratz. They’re no Vertibirds.
Let’s compare the progress of the motorized toy skateboard to the motorized toy helicopter. Vertibird debuted in the early 70’s. I’m guessing the first battery powered tethered controller skateboard was around the time. Today you can buy a radio controlled helicopter that will fly indoor and unfettered for less than $50. The only advancement made in RC skateboards is the ability to play girlie punk-lite music from the controller. You’ll still be spinning 360’s and popping wheelies, albiet Fashion Flippin’ ones. In favor of Vertibirds: Pretend to be on a Coast Guard rescue, police patrol, or Nasa spaceship recovery mission. 30 years later with the Bratz you can pretend to be a tarted up teenage prostitute on a skateboard. Check out the commercial and more after the jump.










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